Trails in Rancho Mirage
Whether you enjoy a physical challenge or just looking for peace and calm, there are trails for every age and ability. Your options may feature picnic areas, incredible views of the desert landscape, or for the more adventurous, a panoramic view of the mountains. Trails in Rancho Mirage can be enjoyed on foot, bicycle or horseback. Check the listings for details. Bring the family, and don’t forget comfortable shoes and plenty of water. And keep your eyes open, you may get a glimpse of an elusive Bighorn Sheep.
Bighorn Overlook Trail
Frank Sinatra Drive/Highway 111 – Behind City Hall
Difficulty – Easy
The trail is less than one-quarter mile in length with several switchbacks. At the top awaits a picnic shelter and an incredible panoramic view.
Trailhead parking is NOT permitted on Frank Sinatra Drive. Parking is available in the upper parking lot of City Hall.
Butler-Abrams Trail
DaVall and Frank Sinatra Drive
Difficulty – Easy
Bikes Allowed
Access to the Butler-Abrams Trail is from Michael S. Wolfson Park. An asphalt trail parallels the Whitewater Wash dipping down into and out of the Wash. The trail becomes divided into two trails: one for pedestrians and one for horse-back riding. The trail connects Frank Sinatra Drive and Country Club Drive (one block north of Highway 111). Fabulous views of the mountains and a golf course are abundant on this quiet route.
Chuckwalla Trail
Frank Sinatra Drive near Highway 111
Difficulty – Moderate
This section of trail branches off of the Road Runner Trail and loops toward Cathedral City and back around the Mirada Villas ending across from the entrance to The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage hotel on the east side of Frank Sinatra Drive.
Trailhead parking is NOT permitted on Frank Sinatra Drive. Parking is available in the upper parking lot of City Hall.
Clancy Lane Trail
Clancy Lane between Rancho Manana and the Monterey Gate
Difficulty – Easy to Moderate
Bikes Allowed
This trail begins on Clancy Lane between Rancho Manana and the Monterey Gate. It continues under Bob Hope Drive down into and crossing the Whitewater Wash to Whitewater Park, following the edge of the wash.
Jack Rabbit Trail
Frank Sinatra Drive and Highway 111
Difficulty – Moderate
This trail begins on the east end of the Cancer Survivors Park and goes up into the foothills behind the park towards the Bighorn Overlook. The trail passes the overlook and continues down and parallel to Frank Sinatra Drive. It ends at Frank Sinatra Drive where it merges with the Road Runner Trail and continues up to The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, located near the Mirada.
Trailhead parking is NOT permitted on Frank Sinatra Drive. Parking is available in the upper parking lot of City Hall.
Road Runner Trail
Frank Sinatra Drive near Highway 111
Difficulty – Easy to Moderate
Begins just past the grassy area in front of the Mirada fountain that is located at the bottom of Frank Sinatra Drive near Highway 111. It moves off the street through a group of palm trees and continues parallel to the road. The trail crosses Frank Sinatra below The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage and continues south to the hotel entrance driveway.
Trailhead parking is NOT permitted on Frank Sinatra Drive. Parking is available in the upper parking lot of City Hall.
Tennis Anyone?
This is a tennis player’s dream. Rancho Mirage can boast about some courts and events that are recognized by USTA, WTA and ATP. Any skill level can find a court, and even lessons by professional instructors. Singles or doubles will find invigorating play on clay, grass or hard courts for fitness challenge or just recreation. Tennis is definitely a part of the healthy lifestyle you’ll enjoy in Rancho Mirage. Come give it a swing.
Public Tennis Courts
Rancho Mirage Country Club
38500 Bob Hope Dr.
(760) 324-4711
Rancho Las Palmas Tennis Courts
41000 Bob Hope Dr.
(760) 568-2727
Westin Mission Hills
71333 Dinah Shore Dr.
(760) 328-5955
Recreation in Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage’s newest amenity is the expanded Rancho Mirage Community Park (formerly Whitewater Park) and its brand new outdoor amphitheater. The park was recently expanded to the west by approximately three acres and a 600-seat amphitheater has been constructed. It includes terrace seating and a covered stage that supports restrooms and other back-of-the-house facilities.
Other additions to the park include a grand arrival drop-off and vehicular turnaround, pickle ball courts, exercise stations, expanded parking, pedestrian promenades, a state-of-the-art, automated and efficient irrigation system, LED landscape and parking lot lighting systems and new drought-tolerant plant materials.
The previously existing basketball and tennis courts remain and the children’s play area has been upgraded with new equipment. The park is located at 71-560 San Jacinto Dr.
Blixseth Mountain Park
Mirage Road
Blixseth Mountain Park is located east of the Magnesia Storm Channel and the Rancho Mirage Elementary School off Mirage Road. This park was completed in 2000 and features native desert landscaping, walking paths and benches for observing the desert and mountain vistas. Considered a place to experience the natural beauty of the desert, the park offers visitors the opportunity for quiet solitude and closeness to nature not found in the other City parks. The walking trails are easy. (No water or restrooms.)
Cancer Survivors Park
Frank Sinatra Drive and Highway 111
Dedicated on March 24, 1996, the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park is located on the southeast side of City Hall at Frank Sinatra Drive and Highway 111. This beautiful one-acre park features a pyramid kiosk, tiled benches, ponds, a hillside waterfall, and sculptures. The sculpture garden was designed as a celebration of life and to encourage current cancer patients to have the will to fight. One of 22 such parks in the nation, this park was constructed by the Bloch Foundation as a gift to the community. (Restrooms available on weekdays in City Hall which is adjacent to the park.)
Magnesia Falls Mini-Park
North of Rancho Mirage Elementary School
Magnesia Falls Mini-Park is located north of the Rancho Mirage Elementary School. Originally developed as a joint use park with the school district, policy changes and the cessation of the child day care center (operated by the YMCA but funded by the City), led to the dissolution of the agreement for joint use of school facilities for park-type uses. The City land still has an extensively landscaped parkway including a meandering sidewalk and landscape monument which ties into surrounding sidewalks and neighboring Blixseth Mountain Park. In addition, the City has a perpetual easement for the 10-space parking lot at the park. This parking lot provides parking and access to Blixseth Mountain Park.
Michael S. Wolfson Park
DaVall and Frank Sinatra Drive
Dedicated on Nov. 26, 1986, Michael S. Wolfson Park is located at DaVall and Frank Sinatra drives on a one-acre, triangular-shaped parcel adjacent to the trails system and the Whitewater Wash. This park has a Victorian theme that features a fountain, decorative lighting fixtures, benches, a Braille-marked trail and a fragrance garden. A recorded “welcome” from Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, who lived nearby, may be heard at the entrance to the park. The park was built by the City of Rancho Mirage in honor of former City Council Member Michael S. Wolfson who served on the Council from 1978 to 1986. In February 1988, the park was also the site of one of the first shaded bus stops in Rancho Mirage. (No restrooms.)
Rancho Mirage Dog Park
Southeast corner Key Largo Avenue
The City of Rancho Mirage has developed four acres of municipal land at the southeast corner of Key Largo Ave into our very own state-of-the-art dog park. The park will accommodate dogs of all sizes providing grassy runs for small dogs and another for large dogs.
The park in encircled with a walking path for those that like to be on the go and there is lots of shade from canopies and trees if you just want to relax while watching your pooch play.
Rancho Mirage is a proud pet-friendly city that encourages our visitors and residents to exercise their four legged companions.
Hours are dawn to dusk and there is ample parking. The gates are locked overnight.